-
Copyrighted Books And Medical Education
Assalam o Alaikum
Completed medical school a while back and honestly genuinely never thought about how the resources we used were a case of copyright infringement or was in anyway morally wrong. It’s just the culture ( even outside Pakistan as medical books and resources can be prohibitively expensive sometimes even for kids who have dollars rather than a very devalued rupee). I’m not sure even 10% of the students could afford to buy all the resources they used in medical school ( and even the 10% would feel financially burdened by the cost).
Anyways, just entered my postgraduate program and have a list of books I have been given PDFs of or are being sold pirated. I was determined to not do anything unfair now that I know this is wrong but I feel very stressed as even the most the most essential book I need is not being sold original ( from India so banned maybe???), and I really need it. There are many others and maybe they are being sold original somewhere but i might be feeling those dollar prices on my modest stipend. Not to mention the share work it takes to just find out if the book is actually original , where it’s being sold, if not then can I buy it only.
It’s a lot of work to study and get ahead…. I earned my place in a accredited program officially recognised by this country’s college of postgraduate physicians and surgeons. Can I just use what ever resources my supervisor is providing me without thinking about piracy too much ( trying to do good wherever I can ). Can an individual be somewhat relieved of a crime if it is a part of the system they can’t change?
-
3 Replies
-
Copyrighted Books And Medical Education
updated 1 month, 1 week ago
2 Members
·
3
Replies
-
This is an unethical practice, and at present, there appears to be no immediate solution. If you have no other viable options, you may make use of these resources. Ultimately, the excuse you present before God on the Day of Judgment rests on whether you sincerely believe you had no alternative.
The knowledge you gain remains valid, and the income you earn will be halal, as it is a reward for your own effort.
You may use the resources provided by your supervisors. If they choose to use pirated versions, that responsibility lies with them, not with you.
-
I feel as if even the supervisor has little control of what materials are necessary to train and pass certifying papers. It should be on the institution to facilitate ethical delivery of material, whether books and softwares, they want us to use but are clearly far too expensive. The books and softwares I need will easily cost a whole salary… and may continue to cost a third or more of it every month.
Can I use second hand books (probably also pirated as it’s rare to buy original especially recent editions) but I feel like that should relief me of some responsibility as it’s not if the author was benefiting even if it was original?
-
Please read the previous answer.
Sponsor Ask Ghamidi
